---
title: Heartland School Solutions | Connections | Free & Reduced
description: Free & Reduced |
---

[![Heartland-AGPC-logo-main](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Heartland_May2018/images/Heartland-AGPC-logo-main.png?width=168&height=31&name=Heartland-AGPC-logo-main.png)](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en) ![Heartland](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/hubfs/Heartland_May2018/images/aglobalpaymentscompany_identifier_grey.png)

- [Back to Main Site](https://www.heartlandpaymentsystems.com/)

- [Back to Main Site](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/)
- Products 
    - [Nutrition Technology](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/nutrition-technology)
    - [Payment Solutions](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/payment-solutions)
- Support 
    - [Support Central](https://info.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/support-central)
    - [Technical Consulting](https://info.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/consulting)
- Events 
    - [Training Events](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/training-events)
    - [Shows and Conferences](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/shows-and-conferences)
    - [Connect 2026](https://info.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/connect)
- About 
    - [Our Story](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/about/our-story)
    - [Partnerships](https://info.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/integrations)
    - [Careers](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/about/careers)
- Resources 
    - [Webinars](https://info.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/webinars-nutrition)
    - [Guides & Templates](https://info.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/resources/guides-templates)
    - [Blog](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com)

# ![Connections Blog](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/hubfs/LP_Templates/Connections-Blog/Connections-Blog-Logo-2024.svg)

Fresh insights for school leaders

## [A perfect pairing: Springfield Public School’s journey with MCS](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/a-perfect-pairing-springfield-public-schools-journey-with-mcs)

 By [Melissa Colopietro](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/author/melissa-colopietro)

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

[![](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/hubfs/Springfield_Blog_Header.png)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/a-perfect-pairing-springfield-public-schools-journey-with-mcs)

In the world of school nutrition, efficiency and accuracy are crucial. For Springfield Public Schools in Massachusetts, delivering nutritious meals to over 28,000 students across 66 public schools and 12 charter/parochial schools is no small feat. We recently had the opportunity to visit Springfield Public Schools, where we saw firsthand how they utilize MCS to manage their operations from Back of House to Front of House. 

[**Read More ⟶**](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/a-perfect-pairing-springfield-public-schools-journey-with-mcs)

## [Afterschool Nutrition Programs Make More "Cents" Than You Think](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/outline-afterschool-nutrition-programs-may-make-more-cents-than-you-thought)

 By [Nate Winans](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/author/nate-winans)

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

[![](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/hubfs/Afterschool%20Nutrition%20Programs.jpg)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/outline-afterschool-nutrition-programs-may-make-more-cents-than-you-thought)

[Afterschool Nutrition Programs](https://frac.org/programs/afterschool-nutrition-programs) help millions of low-income students across the country get access to healthy meals they might not otherwise receive outside of school. When districts offer an afterschool nutrition program (ANP), eligible students are able to receive a snack or meal on a weeknight, weekend, and school holiday.

In 2017, more than 46,000 districts participated in ANPs offered through both the [Child and Adult Care Food Program](https://www.fns.usda.gov/cacfp/child-and-adult-care-food-program) (CACFP) and the [National School Lunch Program](https://www.fns.usda.gov/nslp) (NSLP). Together, these programs served over [1.07 million children](https://www.frac.org/wp-content/uploads/afterschool-report-october-2018.pdf)and participation has continued to grow year over year. 

[**Read More ⟶**](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/outline-afterschool-nutrition-programs-may-make-more-cents-than-you-thought)

## [5 Ways To Prepare for Verification](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/5-ways-to-prepare-for-verification)

 By [Andrew Ritzman](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/author/andrew-ritzman)

- [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)

[![](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/hubfs/Blog/September_2016/5-ways-to-prepare-for-verification.jpg)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/5-ways-to-prepare-for-verification)

With Verification just around the corner, there's a number of things you and your staff can do in your [Free & Reduced](https://www.heartlandpaymentsystems.com/school-solutions/nutrition-technology/free-and-reduced/) software to make this process even smoother this school year.  In working with our in-house Free & Reduced experts, we've come up with 5 things every district should do now to prepare for the start of Verification:

[**Read More ⟶**](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/5-ways-to-prepare-for-verification)

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[![free-webinars-for-school-nutrition-technology](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog/free-webinars-for-school-nutrition-technology.png?width=375&height=416&name=free-webinars-for-school-nutrition-technology.png)](https://info.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/webinars-nutrition)

 

### Recent Posts

### Posts by Topic

- [School Lunch (42)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/school-lunch)
- [School Payments (33)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/school-payments)
- [MySchoolBucks (31)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/myschoolbucks)
- [Point of Sale software (21)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/point-of-sale-software)
- [Conferences (19)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/conferences)
- [School Nutrition Regulation (16)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/school-nutrition-regulation)
- [School Breakfast (14)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/school-breakfast)
- [Training (13)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/training)
- [Menu Planning (11)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/menu-planning)
- [Connect (10)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/connect)
- [Social Media (10)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/social-media)
- [Contests & Grants (9)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/contests-grants)
- [How to (9)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/how-to)
- [Parent Newsletters (9)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/parent-newsletters)
- [Recipes (8)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/recipes)
- [Hardware (7)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/hardware)
- [School Fundraising (7)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/school-fundraising)
- [Afterschool Programs (6)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/afterschool-programs)
- [MCS software (6)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/mcs-software)
- [Mosaic Cloud (6)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/mosaic-cloud)
- [Cloud-Based Solutions (5)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/cloud-based-solutions)
- [invoicing (5)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/invoicing)
- [nutrition program (5)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/nutrition-program)
- [Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) (4)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/community-eligibility-provision-cep)
- [Farm to School (4)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/farm-to-school)
- [MealViewer (4)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/mealviewer)
- [School Store (4)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/school-store)
- [free downloads (4)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/free-downloads)
- [Data Security (3)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/data-security)
- [Digital Signage (3)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/digital-signage)
- [Donations (3)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/donations)
- [Free & Reduced (3)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/free-reduced)
- [Lunch Debt (3)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/lunch-debt)
- [School Accounting (3)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/school-accounting)
- [back to school (3)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/back-to-school)
- [school commerce platform (3)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/school-commerce-platform)
- [Cashless Campus (2)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/cashless-campus)
- [Customer Testimonial (2)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/customer-testimonial)
- [Direct Certification (2)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/direct-certification)
- [Happy holidays (2)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/happy-holidays)
- [MSB Activities (2)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/msb-activities)
- [MSB Tickets (2)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/msb-tickets)
- [Meal Ordering (2)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/meal-ordering)
- [National School Lunch Week (2)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/national-school-lunch-week)
- [Nutrikids (2)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/nutrikids)
- [Webinars (2)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/webinars)
- [ANC (1)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/anc)
- [Activities (1)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/activities)
- [Black History Month (1)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/black-history-month)
- [Communications (1)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/communications)
- [Contactless Payments (1)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/contactless-payments)
- [Meal Debt (1)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/meal-debt)
- [Partnerships (1)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/partnerships)
- [Pickle Juice (1)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/pickle-juice)
- [Procurement (1)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/procurement)
- [School events (1)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/school-events)
- [Serving in the Classroom (1)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/serving-in-the-classroom)
- [Women's History Month (1)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/womens-history-month)
- [school commerce (1)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/school-commerce)
- [school fees (1)](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/topic/school-fees)

See All »

[![Heartland](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/hubfs/Heartland_May2018/images/logo.png)](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com)

### Nutrition Technology

- [Point of Sale](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/nutrition-technology/point-of-sale)
- [Free and Reduced](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/nutrition-technology/free-and-reduced)
- [Online Applications](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/nutrition-technology/online-applications)
- [Menu Planning](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/nutrition-technology/menu-planning)
- [Meal Orders](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/nutrition-technology/meal-orders)
- [Ordering Inventory](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/nutrition-technology/ordering-inventory)
- [Digital Menus](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/nutrition-technology/mealviewer)

### Payment Solutions

- [School Store](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/payment-solutions/school-store)
- [Student Invoicing](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/payment-solutions/student-invoicing)
- [School Program Management](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/payment-solutions/msb-activities)
- [Tickets & Event Management](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/payment-solutions/ticketing)
- [School Funds Accounting](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/payment-solutions/school-funds-accounting)
- [In-Person Payments](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/payment-solutions/msb-anywhere)
- [Meal Payments](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/payment-solutions/meals)

### Events

- [Training Events](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/training-events)
- [Shows and Conferences](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/shows-and-conferences)
- [Connect 2026](https://info.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/connect)

### Support

- [Support Central](https://info.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/support-central)
- [Technical Consulting](https://info.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/consulting)

### About

- [Our Story](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/about/our-story)
- [Partnerships](https://info.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/integrations)
- [Careers](https://www.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/en/about/careers)

### Resources

- [Webinars](https://info.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/webinars-nutrition)
- [Guides & Templates](https://info.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/resources/guides-templates)
- [Blog](https://blog.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/)

### Contact Sales

800.423.2113

### Contact

- [Contact Sales](https://info.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/contact-us)
- [Contact Support](https://info.heartlandschoolsolutions.com/support-central#help)

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### Location

765 Jefferson Road, #400  
Rochester, NY 14623

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